Finance and operations
Trainer 2026: Fiorella Bianchi
The global funding landscape for think tanks is undergoing rapid and profound transformation. Major bilateral donors are reducing aid budgets, philanthropic actors are shifting priorities, and domestic funding environments—both in the Global South and North—are increasingly shaped by political volatility, competition for visibility, and demands for demonstrable impact. These trends create uncertainty and financial pressure for policy research institutions whose contributions to evidence-informed policymaking remain essential.
In this context, think tanks must strengthen their financial and operational foundations to ensure long-term resilience. This requires not only diversifying funding sources but also deepening institutional understanding of organisational costs, business models, and the systems that enable efficient and sustainable operations.
Articles and reports
- Non-profit finance mind shift: from cost recovery to mission delivery
- Indirect costs: think tank strengthening and sustainability
Videos
In this webinar, Amanda Jones from the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) shares practical guidance on how to design realistic, donor-friendly project budgets for think tanks. She explains different budget formats, how to make sure all your costs (including overheads and communications) are covered, and how to use tools like timesheets and past project data to improve future budgeting. The session is aimed at managers, researchers and finance staff who may not be finance experts but are responsible for planning and managing project budgets.
This session, led by Sonja Stojanovic Gajic, introduces the essentials of financial management and financial leadership for people without a finance background. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience directing and advising think tanks, Sonja demystifies key concepts, including business and funding models, core versus project funding, budgeting, liquidity, and financial resilience in times of crisis. Through real organisational examples and interactive discussion, participants explore the different roles of financial managers and leaders, learn how funding choices affect independence and impact, and reflect on how to strengthen the financial health of their own organisations.